What to do when a dry cough keeps you up all night

Written by carole ann| 13/05/2017

A dry hacking cough can be annoying, particularly when it keeps the person awake all night. There are simple things people can do to relieve symptoms or make themselves more comfortable so they can get some rest.

Food Remedies

Some simple food remedies can offer relief, according to grandmashomeremedies.com. The juice from a chopped onion with an equal amount of honey works as an effective cough syrup (dose = 1 tsp.). Grinding 100g raisins and heating with 100g sugar and enough water to make a sauce is another cough syrup recipe (dose = 20g taken at bedtime).

Moisture

Breathing steam can help moisten the throat to relieve coughing, says grandmashomeremedies.com. Running a humidifier also delivers moisture to the air.

Position

Sometimes a cough is worse when the person is lying down. Moving into a more upright position or elevating the head with pillows may help, according to pamf.org. Sleeping on a recliner involves the same principle.

Hot Tea

According to grandmashomeremedies.com, adding ingredients to a cup of hot tea can help with a dry cough. These include honey and cinnamon. Another idea is to boil the water with ginger before adding the tea leaves, then add three or four basil leaves and a pinch of pepper.

Cough Suppressants

According to pamf.org, a cough suppressant with dextromethorphan can relieve dry cough. Cough medications should be used with caution, as they may interact with other medications. They may also cause problems for individuals other conditions such as heart disease, asthma and high blood pressure.

Warning

If a cough lasts more than a week or is accompanied by fever or headache, a doctor should be consulted.